Hammock-support.



No. 665,|25. Patented 1an. I, |90|.

I. E. PALMER.

HAMMOCK SUPPURT.

v Appunti mea Apr. 29, 189s.) l 'um nml.) s sheets-sheet No. 665,|25. Patented 1an. mol. E. PALMER.

HAMMGK SUPPUBT.

(Applieation led Apr. 29, 1898.)

(No Modal.) O 3 Shasta-Sheet 2.

ju.ss5,|"25. Patented 1an. l, lool.

I. E. PALMER.

HAMMocK SUPPORT.

(Applictivcn Bled. Apr. 29, 1898.) l (un Model.) s sheetssheet s;

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NITED STATES IsAAC E. PALMER, or ivuDDLErowN,l CONNECTICUT.

HAivnvlocK-SUP'PORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,125, dated. January 1, 1901.

Application filed April 29, 1898. Serial No. 679,179. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER, a citi-` port, with the object in view of providing a` light stable support which may be folded intoV a compact compass for shipment or storage and which may be readily set up for use as occasion may require.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view of the support in side elevation as it appears when set up for use. Fig. 2 is a View of the same in end elevation. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 4 is a View of the support when folded looking at it in the direction toward which the folded legs face. Fig. 5 is a view of the same looking at it in adirection edgewise of the folded legs or at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an end view looking toward the foot ends of the folded legs. Fig. 7 is an end View looking toward the folded joints of the legs. Fig. Sis an enlarged view in detail, showing the exterior of the legjoint as it appears when the support is set up for use. kFig. 9 is an edge view of the'same.

- viewof the same in side eleva-tion, showing `of bolts b2, provided with nuts b3.

lower ends the castings B B are each pro-- Fig. 21 is a view in detail in sidev tions; but it might be formed in more than two, if so desired. Each of the sectionsAA consists of longitudinal bars'a et', spaced apart and connected at their opposite ends by suitable castings, which castings are also adapted to form parts of joints, as will hereinafter f more particularly appear. I have shown the bars d a' of each of the sections arranged substantially parallel throughout the length of the section, and this arrangement l iind to be Very rigid and efficient in practice. The sections A A are hinged together in a manner which will permit one of the sections A or A to be swung underneath the other section, so that the two sections shall lie when folded edgewise in the same plane, as clearly indicated in Figs. 15 and 16.

The hinge-joint between the two sections is preferably formed as follows: A pair of castings B B', each provided with half-sockets b b', spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the bars aa.' of the sections, receive between them the ends of the bars ct a.' and are tightly drawn together to press the ends of the bars between them by means At their vided with a perforated ear, (denoted, respectively, by b4 b5.) Castings similar to B B' are in like manner engaged with the adjacent ends of the bars a a of the adjacent section of the ridge-'pole and are provided with per.

forated ears be bl, arranged to register with the perforated ears 54195, and through these perforated ears when arranged toV register there extends a hinge-pintle bs. The sections A A of the ridge-pole so hinged together may be conveniently locked in extended ad- I justment by means of a swinging loop b9, caught at one end in eyes blo at the top of the ICO castings B B and at its opposite end provided with an opening Z911 for the reception of upwardly-extending lugs Z912 Z913 at the adjacent upper edges of the pair of castings at the ends of the sections. The position of the fasteninglop b9 when in locked adjustment is clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and when in released adjustment in Fig. 15.

The ridge-pole is supported by four legs arranged in pairs at its opposite ends. The four legs are similar to one another and the specic description of one and the manner of connecting it to the ridge-pole will disclose fully the structure and manner of connection of the others. opposite ends of the ridge-pole sections form at the same time a connection between the bars of the ridge-pole section and one part of the hinge-joint between the ridge-pole section and the leg. Referring to the enlarged views in detail in Figs. 17 to 20, inclusive, a pairof castings, the members of which are denoted by C C', are each provided with halfsockets c c', spaced apart a distance corresponding to the space between the bars a a' of the section and are tted to tightly embrace the opposite sides ofthe bars d a. They are drawn snugly into contact with the bars and held in position by means of bolts c2, provided with nuts c3. These castings C and C are further providedintermediate of the halfsockets with a lug c4, having a head tapered on its inner or under side, and at their lower ends each of the said castings is provided with a downwardly and laterally projecting tongue c5. One of the castings-as, for example, the casting C-is also conveniently provided with a hook c6 for the attachment thereto of one end of the hammock. (Not shown.) The leg comprises two sections-an upper and a lower sectionthe upper section heilig denoted by D and the lowersection by D'. The upper section of the leg is preferably formed of a pair of bars (denoted by d d',) which gradually diverge from the lower end of the section D toward the ridge-pole, and at their upper ends they are connected by a casting (denoted as a whole by E) provided with a pair of half-sockets e c for the reception of the ends of the bars d d', respectively. The ends of the bars d CZ' are held in the half-sockets e e' by means of an exterior plate E, also provided with halfsockets e2 e3, the plate E being clamped to the plate E to hold the ends of the bars d d snugly between them by means of bolts e6, provided with nut-s e7. The casting E is further provided with a web es, connecting the half-sockets e e intermediate of the position which the bars d d' occupy and so shaped as to receive the locking-tongue c5 on its face, as clearly shown in Fig. 17, when the parts are assembled for use. The castingE is further provided with a verticallyelongated slot e for the reception of the stem of the lug c4, the outer portion of the slot e9 having its The connections at theV applied'to the ridge-pole when the latter is A set up for use. The arrangement of thelug c4 with respect to the plate e8 is such that the tongue c5 will engage the plate e8 sim ultaneously with the engagement of the lug c4 with the beveled wall e10 of the slot e9, so as to effect a tight lock between the leg and the ridgepole when the latter is set up for use, the greater the weight applied to the ridge-pole the firmer the lock, and at the same time permitting the unlocking of the parts the moment Weight is removed by sim ply lifting the end of the leg from the ground or floor and sliding it lengthwise far enough to disengage the tongue c5 from the plate e8. Such movement of the leg will be permitted by the elongated slot e, and when the tongue is released from the plate the leg` may be swung edgewise into a plane parallel with the plane ci' the backbonesection adjacent thereto, as shown in Fig. 20.

Instead of beveling the wall of the slot e9 the casting E may be provided at its upper end with a tongue e, as shown in the modified form, Figs. 21 and 22, which may be received beneath a keeper cl2 on the casting C.

The sections D and D of the leg are hinged together,so that the section D or lowersection may be folded outwardly over onto the section D. The lower section D' is preferably formed of a single piece of material and having its upper portion separated into diverging bars d2 d3, the former being so arranged as to form a continuation of the bard of the upper section D of the leg and the latter, cl3, io form a continuation of the bar d of the upper section. The two sections are hinged together by means of castings F F, each provided with a pair of half-sockets the members of which are denoted byff and are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the Space between the bars cl CZ' and cl2 cl3. The casting F is provided with a pair of perforated lugs j'2f3 and the casting F with a pair of lugs f4f5, arranged to register with the lngsfgf, and the hinge is completed by a pintle f, which extends through the registering lugs aforesaid. The castings F F are each secured to the end oi' its respective leg-section D by means of a clamp-plate f7, which engages the outer faces of the bars near the ends of each of the sections, which plate is drawn in snug contact with the leg-sections by means of a bolt f8, provided with a nut f". The leg-.sections D D' are conveniently locked in their extended adjustment by means of a hook G, pivotally secured to one of the castings, as F, and adapted to swing into and out of engagement with an eye g, fixed to the other casting F'.

In speaking of the several half-socket pieces as castings I have used a term which is IOO IIO

IZO

strictly applicable to them as castings, a form which is found to be efficient and economical; but I do not in using such term wish to be understood as limiting the joint-pieces to metal which is actually cast as distinguished from being swaged or struck up by dies, as it may be found expedient to resort to such manner of forming the pieces in order to save weight and at the same time preserve the necessary strength.

To fold the support from the position shown in Figs. l, 2, and Sinto the folded adjustment shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the lower section D of each of the legs may first be folded over onto the upper sectionby releasing the hook G from the eye g. Each of the legs thus folded may then be dropped sufficient to release it from its locked engagement with the end of the backbone and when so released swung around into position to lie alongside of the backbone-section adjacent thereto, as clearly indicated in Fig. 20. The backbone then may be released at its joint by throwing the loop b9 out of engagement with the lugs 512 Z213, and the backbone-sections may then be,together with the folded leg-sections,folded together, bringing the whole mass into the compact compass represented inthe different views, Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive.

In the folding for shipment or storage and in the unfolding to set the supports in position for use there is no occasion for either hamsince each of the sockets in which they are held is of the two-part structure and provision made for drawing these two parts into close contact with the bars and parts of the leg. The structure, furthermore, saves the exact fitting required in fitting a bar to enter a complete socket, and if at any time there should be shrinkage sufficient to cause the slightest looseness this may be promptly taken up and made as rigid as in the beginning by simply turning the nut on the drawbolt,which draws the two parts of the socket toward each other.

To limit the spread of the legs, I find it convenient to fasten a cord Hwat one end to one of the legs, as at h, and lead it thence through a slot in the bottom of the leg across to the opposite leg, Where it may be inserted in a slot and prevented from becoming displaced by means of a knot h' or other stop locatedr in such a position as to determine the proper spread of the legs. When so adjusted, it

utilized when the parts are folded to tie having a hook 'L' thereon. The [it of the hook.

I is such that when strain is placed upon the hook 1l it will tend to tilt the ring I and cause it to bind on the bar a sufficiently to hold it in any position in which it may be placed along the bar a.

It is evident that changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the sev.- eral parts-described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the structure herein shown, but

What I claim isl. A hammock-support comprising a folding backbone, supporting-legs arranged in pairs and forming the main support of the backbone, each of.the legs being formed in sections hinged together for folding the lower section onto theV upper section and joints forming a permanent connection between the legs and the backbone, means for permitting the said legs to swin g bodily toward and away from the backbone in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of the backbone and the upper members of each pair of legs being, at the same time, free to move toward and away from the backbone into and out of locking engagement with the backbone, substantially as set forth.

2. A hammock-support comprising a backbone consisting of bars spaced apart throughout their length, legs arranged to support the backbone and joints connecting the legs with the backbone, the said joints consisting of spacing-pieces for the backbone-bars and hinge pieces connec'ted with the spacingpieces for the attachment of the legs, substantially asset forth.

3. The combinationl with a backbone, of legs for supporting the backbone and a joint between the leg and the backbone, the said joint consisting of interlocking parts, the one of said parts being provided with a holdingtongue and a stud and the opposite part being provided with an incline-faced bearing- IOO IIO

plate for engaging the tongue and with a vertically-elongated slot for the reception of the stud, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a backbone, of legs for supporting the backbone and a joint for connecting the leg with the backbone, the said joint consisting of interlocking parts one of said parts being provided with a holdingtongue and a stud and the other part being provided with a bearing-plate for engaging the tongue and an elongated slot having its walls beveled for engaging the stud, substantially as set forth. y

5. The combination with the backbone and its supporting-legs, of a joint for connecting the backbone and leg, one of the parts being my invention I have signed my name, in pres? provided with e tongue and a stud hztving a ence of two Witnesses, this 27th day of April,-

beveled head, the other part being provided 1898.

with a bearing-plate and elongated beveled ISAAC E. PALMER. 5 wall-slot for engaging the said tongue and VVitnesses stud, substantially as set forth. FREDK. HAYNES,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as EDWARD VIESER. 

